Goggles structure



1952 w. R. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 2,618,782

GOGGLES STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 8, 1949 Nov. 25, 1952 w. R. CHRISTENSEN ET AL GOGGLES STRUCTURE Filed June 8, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 4' MELTWHII RT 35 1| WU INVENTORJ WI'HI'OIM R. ch)

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Patented Nov. 25, 1952 GOGGLES STRUCTURE William R. Christensen, Newton Highlands, and Chester E. Cross, East Sandwich, Mass.

Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,861

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 12 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to anti-fogging and anti-frosting goggles, and more particularly to improved ventilating structure to prevent condensation of moisture on the goggles lenses.

Broadly, in principle, it has been found that ventilation of the eyecup cavities of goggles when the latter are to'be used under climatic conditions likely to produce fogging or frosting greatly reduces such fogging or frosting. However, the means for producing a flow of ventilating air in the eyecups must be designed to produce currents coinciding with the normal convection currents of the goggles cavities in so far as possible, to provide a readyand rapid removal of moist air, and thus prevent condensation of moisture upon the goggles lens.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved heat conducting and ventilating structure for a goggles to prevent fogging and frosting of the goggles lenses.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved means .to control the flow of air through the air circulating structure of a goggles.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved anti-fogging and anti-frosting goggles structure wherein there is continuous and rapid removal of excessive humidity from the goggles cavities.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved goggles structure wherein guided and relatively controlled air currents coincide with normal convection currents Within the goggles cavities to continuously and rapidly remove excessive moisture from the cavities.

Further objects, advantages, adaptations and uses of this improvement in goggles structure will be readily apparent from the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a goggles structure embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the goggles;

Figure 3 is a top view of the goggles, with the top ventilating means partially broken away;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial perspective of the outlet of the ventilated goggles shown in Figures 1 and 3; and

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of blank sheets from which the ventilator structures are made.

Referring to the drawings, the goggles comprises a frame I constructed of rubber or other like material of a flexible resilient nature, having a curved face-contacting side It and a lensholding bead l2, separated by a circumferential web 13 of conventional arrangement. Bead I 2 contains a groove l4, within which a conventional lens l5 of a cellulose acetate, or other suitable material, is inserted and held by conventional snap fasteners 16. The ventilating means comprising air outlet structure I1 and air inlet structure I 8 is mounted respectively in the upper and lower edges of the frame H1. The latter is provided with conventional head straps l9, secured in ears or lugs 20 on the frame [0 by the strap end enlargements I9. In addition, the nose bridging portion of goggles frame In may be provided with a flexible chamois or cloth material 2| for protection of the wearers nose against excessive cold. This protector 2| is secured to the goggles framework It! by adhering it to the nose bridging part of the face-contacting portion H with a suitable rubber adhesive.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the air inlet structure l8 comprises a blank I8 shown in Fig. 9, preferably of thin malleable copper, bent on the dotted lines 22 to form a plurality of angularly disposed accordion folds or fins 24 and opposite ends 24'. When this inlet structure is disposed in assembled relation in the frame ID the fins 24 cooperate with the lens [5 to form passageways of progressively increasing Width from the inlet to outlet ends thereof so as to distribute incoming an over substantially the entire interior surface of lens F5.

The air outlet structure l1, illustrated in Fig. 5, is likewise formed of flexible metallic sheet material, the outlet comprising three blanks 25, 26 and 21, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, bent on dotted lines 28 to provide accordion folds or ribs 29. In the assembled relationship of the parts these ribs cooperate to form parallel series of air outlet passageways 30 and 3|. The formed blanks 25, 26 and 21 are secured together by end pieces 32 which may be formed from separate strips or which may be formed by extending either end of blank 25 or blank 21 to provide overlapping junctures that are joined by soldermg, or by the use of other suitable adhesive, such as rubber, resin or the like.

There is provided along one longitudinal edge of blank 25 a plurality of uniformly spaced dovetail shaped extensions 33. These extensions 33 are bent on dotted lines 34 into a plane normal to the strip 25 so as to extend over the air outlet wise provided a plurality of uniformly spaced dovetail shaped extensions 35 which overlap when the blank 26 is folded on lines 28 to provide the ribs 29 previously mentioned. The extensions 35 depend downwardly into the goggles cavities, as illustrated in Fig. 1, when the parts are in assembled relation so that the overlapping edges 35 serve primarily as air separating means or partition for maintaining most of the cold air entering through inlet structure I8 closely adjacent the inner side of lens l5 so that very little of it mixes with the warmer moist air' adjacent the eyes.

In the apparatus as described, slots 36 are provided in web I 5 on each side of the nose bridging portion of'frame l8 for-receiving air inlet structures l8; The inlet structures l8 are secured in thes lo'ts' B'G-by the use of a suitable adhesive, as rubber; cellulose acetate or other securing means, as by molding or bonding the same in the frame or the like, as desired. a

The outlet structures ll is likewise secured in an aperture of appropriate si'ze'in the 'web l2 along the upper side of the frame Hl. Preferably the front and back walls 31 and 38, respectively, on the outlet structure are secured, respectively, to the back of bead l2 andto the front of facepiece I I so that the shield for the outlet passageways 30 and3i faces rearwardly, and reverse air currents within the goggles cavities are thus prevented.

It will be observed that the accordion folds connecting adjacent passageways in the inlet and outlet forming means lend flexibility to the same. Likewise the fact that the overlapping ends of the extensions in the shield and partition are not seouredto'geth'er does not diminish the flexibility of the inlet and outlet forming means and furthermore this shield and partition 'will be continuous irrespective of'the direction the frame I is flexed;

This apparatus as described is designed to operaitewithout fogging or frosting under conditions of low ambient temperatures. Although the flow of air through the goggles structure may be more or less controlled by the adjustable extensions '33, it is preferable that the goggles be generally utilized under low wind conditions to avoid undue chilling of the eyes, caused by incbmingcold air. 7

Under actual test conditions, it was found that the goggles as above described remained free of fog and frost for at least an hours time at temperatures of from -l 30 to -'-20 F. These tests were made under Working conditions within climatic test chambers of a conventional character.

In the arrangement described, when the extensions 33 and '35 are formed of material of high thermal conductivity, heat will be dissipated from the upper'a'rea of the :eyecup cavities thus reducing the absorption of moisture by the air in the eyec'up cavity. Also in conjunction with extensions 35, the outlet controls '33 aid in providing-a measured or regulated flow of air over the innersur face area of lens which is distributed through the eye'cup cavity about a wearers eyes. That is, incoming air from the passageways pro- 'vi'ded by inlets 1'8 primarily is directed to flowover the lenses and out through the controlled passageways 30 whereas a less direct flow is caused to be distributed into the cavities about the eyes of a wearer to absorb facial moisture and carry it off through controlled passageways 3!.

Although the above outlet structures are formed of flexible copper or otherthin metallic conductor material, it will be apparent that a rubber or plastic adaption of this model can be constructed for insertion into or molded with the goggles frame. Further, if desired, the extension 35 may be. formed of transparent acetate, resin or like material, to increase vertical vision.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the foregoing is a description in detail of what is now considered to be the illustrative form of the invention, but it will be obvious that various changes may be made in the structural details Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes be included within the scope of the appended claims. We claim:

1. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has 'a flexible face c'ontacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, flexible ventilating air inlet forming means defining'a plurality of'passa'ges projecting generallynpwardly through the lower edge of' the frame into the confined space closely adjacent the inner side of the lens on each side of the bridge of said frame, flexible outlet forming means extending through the top edge of said frame on the inner side of the lens, a plurality of extensions depending into the space behind said lens closely adjacent thereto from the top edge of said frame to form a partition, and a plurality of extensions on the outside of said frame extending backwardly over the passages in said-outlet-forming means to form a shield over the same, said extensions in said partition and said extensions in said shield respectively partially overlapping and being free of attachment to each other so that flexibility of the'par'tition and shield 1's not appreciably diminished and said partition and shield are each continuous when the frame 2. In a goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define substantially sealed eyecups when the goggles are worn, the combination comprising means for directing a flow of .externalair through the eyecups closely adjacent the inner surface 0f the lens supported in the-frame including inlet forming means in the frame immediately adjacent the inner side of the said lens on each side of the bridge of said frame for directing airv generally upwardly along the inner side of the said lens and shielded outlet forming means extendinglongitudinally of the top of said frame and including meansforming a partition closely adjacent the inner side of. the said lens, said inlet and outlet forming means each-comprising one or more continuous strips of relatively flexible material formed to provide a plurality of open "passages defined by. accordion formed partially to overlap when folded back and being free of attachment to each other so that fiexibility'of said outlet forming means is not appreciably diminished by said shield and said extensions form a continuous shield over the outlet forming means irrespective of which direction the lens frame is flexed.

4. A goggles as defined in claim 2 wherein the partition on said outlet forming means comprises a plurality of extensions depending into the space behind the said lens closely adjacent the inner side thereof, the depending ends of said extensions partially overlapping and being free of attachment to each other so that flexibility of the outlet forming means is not appreciably diminished thereby and said extensions form a continuous partition across the front of the goggles irrespective of the direction in which the frame is flexed.

5. A goggles as defined in claim 2 wherein the inlet and outlet forming means is formed from a material of high thermal conductivity.

6. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, flexible ventilating air inlet forming means projecting through the bottom edge of said frame closely adjacent the inner side of said lens, flexible outlet forming means extending through the top edge of said frame closely adjacent the inner side of said lens and including wall structure forming a plurality of flexibly interconnected passages arranged in side-by-side relation in two or more parallel rows extending longitudinally of the frame, means forming a shield on the outside of said frame extending over said outlet passages, and means forming a partition between parallel rows of outlet passages depending into the space in said goggles in close proximity to the inner side of said lens so that one row of passages forms an outlet for ventilating air immediately adjacent the inner side of said lens and the other forms an outlet for air behind said partition contacting the face of the wearer.

'7. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, flexible ventilating air inlet forming means projecting through the bottom edge of said frame closely adjacent the inner side of said lens, flexible outlet forming means extending through the top edge of said frame closely adjacent the inner side of said lens and including wall structure forming a plurality of flexibly interconnected passages arranged in side-by-side relation in two or more parallel rows extending longitudinally of the frame, means forming a shield on the outside of said frame extending over said outlet passages and including a plurality of extensions on said outlet forming means bent backwardly over said passages, and means forming a partition between parallel rows of outlet passages including a plurality of extensions depending from one wall of said outlet forming means in close proximity to the inner side of said lens, said extensions in said shield and said extensions in said partition respectively partially overlapping and being free of attachment to each other so that the flexibility of the partition and shield is not appreciably diminished and said 6 parts are continuous irrespective of the direction in which the frame is flexed.

8. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, ventilating air inlet and outlet forming means for establishing communication between said sealed space and the exterior each including means forming a plurality of passages arranged in side-by-side relation longitudinally of said frame, the said passage forming means including means flexibly to interconnect the adjacent passages so that flexibility of the frame. is not appreciably diminished by the presence therein of the inlet and outlet forming means.

9. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed'space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, ventilating air inlet and outlet forming means for establishing communication between said sealed space and the exterior including wall structure extending through said frame behind the lens and forming a plurality of passages arranged in side-by-side relation longitudinally of the frame, at least the portion of said wall structure between the adjacent passages formed thereby being of at least limited flexibility so that the flexibility of the frame is not appreciably diminished by the presence of the inlet and outlet forming means therein.

10. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a substantially sealed space around the eyes of a wearer of the goggles the combination comprising, ventilating air inlet and outlet forming means for establishing communication between said sealed space and the exterior including wall structure extending through said frame behind the lens and forming a plurality of passages arranged in'side-by-side relation longitudinally of the frame, at least the portion of said wall structure between the adjacent passages formed thereby being of at least limited flexibility so that the flexibility of the frame is not appreciably diminished by the presence of the inlet and outlet forming means therein, said wall structure being formed of a material of relatively high thermal conductivity.

11. In a ventilated goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define asubstantially sealed space around the eyes of aiwearer of the goggles the combination comprising, ventilating air inlet and outlet forming means for establishing communication between the sealed space and the exterior, said inlet and outlet forming means each comprising flexible wall structure extending through said frame and conformed to define a plurality of passages arranged in side-by-side relation longitudinally of said frame and extensions on portions of the wall structure forming said passages projecting into the sealed space closely adjacent the inner side of the lens so as to form a continuous bafile for restricting the flow of ventilating air entering said sealed space to the region closely adjacent the inner side of said lens, the wall structure forming said passages and extensions respectively being flexibly intero-tzarwearerrof the gog les the combination: com

prising, ventilatinggair. inlet and outlet forming means fortestablishing; communication between said sealed space: and the-exterioreach comprising. flexible wall' structure; extending througlrpsaid. frame and conformed to define a.

plurality of; flexibly,- interconnected passage arrangediirr.sideebyesidea relation longitudinally, of the: frame closely; adjacent .the .inner vside-:of said lens so: as 1 to tend :toirestrict .flow of ventilating 7 air to the. region closelyyadjacentzthet inner sideofthe lens, and. extensions on the portions." of the.- wall structure: definingthe. outlet. forming means. external to the-frame-bent back-wardly over thezsaid. outlet .forming means; saidextene sions:.being conformed. partially; to overlap when folded. back; andbeingi-free. of attachment .to each other so. that a-flexible shield isprovided-' for the outlet forming: means .which is continuous when'rthe frame. is flexed-1 WILLIAM R: CI-IRIS'I'ENSENL. CHESTER E; CROSS;

REFERENCES ;CITED..

The followingreferences are of record; vin: the fil'e of 'th'is patent 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Numfloer-v Name 1 Date 604,238: Nerneyp Novivl'l; 1898. 1,686,113. Tillyer' Oct.. 2, 1928 1,807,681 Bakerv June=2, ,1931 1,-936;736 Tillyer'etaL. Nov-.*28,-,.1933 1,947,137 Fraser Feb. 13,-.1934 1984.914. Browning; Dec. 18; 1934 2,342,766: Strano ..Feb.- 29, 1944 

